Transforming Monteverde through Digital Collections Collaboration

1. Creating Collections Through CollaborationAn Innovative Digital Library Project in Monteverde, Costa Rica Laurie KutnerInformation and Instruction Services Librarian/ Library Associate ProfessorUniversity of Vermontlaurie.kutner@uvm.edu Cindy DykesProject AssociateMonteverde Institute Digital Library Project cdykes@maine.rr.com Stefanie HavelkaElectronic Resources-Web Services Librarian/ Assistant ProfessorLehman College/ CUNYstefanie.havelka@lehman.cuny.edu @steffihavelka

2. MVI Digital Collections

3. The Monteverde Zone

4. MVI Digital Collections • Provides infrastructure for international education programs/ researchers • Place-based research /problem-based • learning  generates research reports • MVI Library – limited physical • collection that supports research • - growing digital presence - need identified for access to local • research Monteverde Institute/ MVI Library

5. MVI Digital Collections A digital library project is born • Need identified (UVM) • Collections exist – but limited and hidden access (MVI) • Digital library software, systems support, and server (USF) • Interns bring state-of-the-art knowledge/ gain valuable experience (Syracuse University)

6. MVI Digital Collections Syracuse University digital library internship • Unique overseas internship opportunity for MLIS students • Involvement in all aspects of creating small-scale digital collections • Contribute to greater information access/equity • Understand information issues in developing country context

7. MVI Digital Collections • Hands-on involvement in planning/creating digital library • Reviewing/ updating workflow document • Inventorying all collection items • Making digital collection decisions/ what to include • Describing/ assigning metadata to digital objects for bilingual collections (Spanish and English) • Working in different cultural context, within confines of information challenges posed by location in rural CR Internship involves:

8. MVI Digital Collections Digital collections support 3 areas of MVI mission Digital collections to date: • Sustainable Futures (community development) • Community Health • Tropical Ecology

9. MVI Digital Collections • Have been part of long term planning process for the digital library collections • Have had an opportunity to collaborate in co-writing a grant • Have had a chance to evaluate how the digital collections are used and how they can be improved • Project with lots of room for growth: • Have added a new collection every year • Other small, area research libraries want their collections to be included Why continue to be involved?

10. MVI Digital Collections • Teach use of collections to MVI students, staff and local community - outreach to local schools (bilingual presentations) • Present projects to MVI Board of Directors • Digital libraries featured prominently on MVI library’s website - international usage • Future: publicize to other research institutions in Costa Rica and beyond Instruction and Outreach

11. The future is bright … • Collaborative model is a success • Continue to grow digital collections using interns • Agreement with UCR library school to expand internship to their students • All local MV research institutions now want documents they generate to be included in collections

12. Goals and dreams of the Monteverde Institute Library • Equitable information access for all • Clearinghouse for information and research on the Monteverde zone (digital and physical) • Support across collections of information in the Monteverde zone (and beyond) • Secure funding (program • fees, donations, grants, • etc.) • Slide created by the MVI

13. Thanks for listening! Access our digital collections through the Monteverde Institute web site: http://www.mvinstitute.org Watch our video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N7KNX2eA_s Q and A

14. View presentation at:http://www.uvm.edu/~lkutner/IRRTfinal1.ppt